solar system Flashcards
nebula
a distinct body of interstellar clouds. Originally, the term was used to describe any diffused astronomical object, including galaxies beyond the Milky Way
Solar Nebula
A large cloud of gas and dust from which the sun, planets, and other solar system bodies formed.
Nuclear Fusion
a reaction in which two or more atomic nuclei are combined to form one or more different atomic nuclei and subatomic particles.
Sunspot
are temporary phenomena on the Sun’s photosphere that appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas.
Terrestrial Planets
the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, are called terrestrial because they have a compact, rocky surface like Earth’s terra firma.
Prograde Rotation
the moon revolves in its orbit in the same direction as the planet rotates about its axis. they orbit their planet in the same direction as the planet is rotating.
Retrograde Rotation
orbital or rotational motion of an object in the direction opposite the rotation of its primary, that is, the central object.
Gas Giant
a giant planet composed mainly of hydrogen and helium. Gas giants are also called failed stars because they contain the same basic elements as a star.
Satellite
an object that has been intentionally placed into orbit. they help scientists explore space in new ways.
New Moon
the first lunar phase, when the Moon and Sun have the same ecliptic longitude.
Waxing Crescent
‘Waxing’ means the Moon’s illumination is growing, and ‘Crescent’ means less than half of the Moon is illuminated. This moon phase signifies intention.
1st Quarter Moon
The moon is 90 degrees away from the sun in the sky and is half-illuminated from our point of view its called “first quarter” because the moon has traveled about a quarter of the way around Earth since the new moon.
Waxing Gibbous
an intermediate phase of the Moon that starts right after the First Quarter, The name comes from the Moon’s shape, which is less than a Full Moon but more extensive than the Third Quarter’s semicircle shape. Waxing means that the Moon is getting bigger
Full Moon
when the Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth’s perspective. This occurs when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon.
Comet
a celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a “tail” of gas and dust particles pointing away from the sun.
Asteroid
a small rocky body orbiting the sun. Large numbers of these, ranging in size from nearly 600 miles across to dust particles.
Asteroid Belt
a torus-shaped region in the Solar System, located roughly between the orbits of the planets Jupiter and Mars.
Waning Gibbous
an intermediary Moon phase, It starts right after the Full Moon, and it lasts until the Third Quarter.
Last Quarter Moon
appears half-lit by sunshine and half-immersed in its own shadow. It rises in the middle of the night, appears at its highest in the sky around dawn, and sets around midday.
Meteoroid
a small body moving in the solar system that would become a meteor if it entered the earth’s atmosphere.
Meteorite
a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space.
Lunar Eclipse
occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow, on average there is an eclipse of the Moon every eight months.
Solar Eclipse
occurs when a portion of the Earth is engulfed in a shadow cast by the Moon which fully or partially blocks sunlight.
Waning Crescent
phase occurs when the illumination of the Moon decreases from 49.9% to 0.1%.
